THE IRISH GENEALOGIST 1988 Page 448

But despite the Galway verdict, George was illegitimate. By a remarkable twist of events, a man named Farrell, described as a close relation of George’s, and most probably a connection of Fergus Farrell {see James Peter above) gave evidence in a case of Bourne v Bourne in 1839. and under cross-examination inadvertently let slip that he had procured the forged Roman Catholic marriage certificate used by George to prove his legitimacy in the 1833 cases. 190 But by that stage George had proved incapable of managing the estates. he was deep in litigation and heading for bankruptcy. By 1855 the estates. then amounting to 5.777 acres. had been squandered and George. in addition owed debts of £20.000. George's very many court cases. which continued up to 1856. 191 are now a most valuable source of Ruttledge history. although the Local newspaper reports are not always completely accurate in genealogical details. dates, etc.

George Ruttledge. J.P. died at Home Cottage. Roundstone, Co. Galway aged 75 in 1872 192 and is buried in Hollymount churchyard, his Wife Eleanor Anne had died in January 1859. 193 Their children 194 were:

1 David. eldest son. His will is dated 1851. 195

2 Thomas. second son. b. 8 July 1826, 196 d. before 1856.

3 JAMES PETER. third son. b. Castleconnor. Co. Mayo 1832 of whom below.

4 A son whose name is unknown.

5 William Robert. b.c. 1838, d. 1868. Described at his death as 3rd surviving son. 197

1 Hester Olivia. b. 1832. d. 1839. Described as only daughter. 198

JAMES PETER RUTTLEDGE of Beechgrove (near his father's house. Togher) described as eldest son of George Ruttledge married Julia Mary. youngest daughter of John Gray of Claremorris (see A above) at St. Peter's Church. Dublin on 3 May 1856. I99 In 1868 they were of Melbourne. Australia 200 and shortly afterwards they moved to Dunedin, New Zealand. He died in Dunedin on 18 June 1876 aged 45 and she on 7 October 1908 aged 71. Their children 201 were:

Eveleen Letitia b. Claremorris 1861. d. unmarried Dunedin 22 October 1925 aged 66.

Lyndon Ernest b. Co. Mayo 1862. d. unmarried Dunedin 7 February 1934 aged 73.

Wilson George Victor b. Melbourne 1864. d. Dunedin 11 November 1929 aged 65.

William Charles b. 1868. d. unmarried Dunedin 4 February 1928.

James b. 1872, d. New Zealand 1943.

Lyndon Ernest was a racehorse bookmaker, the next two sons went to sea and the youngest, James became a racehorse trainer of some note. Wilson George Victor was married and his descendants live in New Zealand although the name Ruttledge died out in 1970. James also was married but had no children.

190. Robert Jebb & Arthur R. Symes (ed) Reports of cases. Courts of Queen's Bench & Exchequer Chamber of Ireland, Dublin, 1840, i. pp. 687-689. The alleged marriage of 1794 was not entirely a fabrication. During the fighting of 1798 a party of rebels brought a priest to David's house and forced him to go through a form of marriage with Bridget Howley. George's forged certificate showed the marriage as voluntary and back-dated it to July 1794, i.e. before George's birth. See Ruttledge MSS. items 26, 27 & 28.

191. Daily Express, 30 Nov., 1 and 4 Dec. 1855 & 11 March 1856.

192. Ballinrobe Chronicle, 16 Nov. 1872.

193. Mayo Constitution. 1 February 1859.

194. RD. 1834.8.122.

19S. PROI. index to Prerog. wills.

196. RCB Library, PR of Moylough.Co.Galway.

197. Ballinrobe Chronicle, 5 Dec. 1868.

198. Mayo Constitution, 24 Dec. 1839.

199. RCB. Library. PR of St. Peter's, Dublin. Tyrawley Herald 15 May 1856.

200. RD. 1868.22.205.

201. From information supplied by their descendants in New Zealand.